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Shearer: 'Company You Keep' kind of mirrors Redford's career

Cinema File

Dustin Hoffman, left, and Robert Redford star as Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward in 1975, the two Washington Post reporters who uncovered the Watergate Scandal, in “All the President’s Men.” (AP Photo)

Robert Redford is something of a polarizing figure for movie fans. Some regard him (rightfully) as one of the finest talents of his generation. Others, particularly those who have read Peter Biskind’s “Down and Dirty Pictures,” know the behind-the-scenes Redford isn’t quite the champion of independent film that his work with the Sundance festival might imply.

In his latest effort, “The Company You Keep,” Redford pulls down both director and leading man duties to tell a reality-inspired story about a recently-widowed lawyer who suddenly finds himself running from the FBI. Based on the 2003 novel by Neil Gordon and featuring a star-studded cast, the film feels less like the commentary on domestic terrorism and more like a vehicle for Redford and his buddies to draw audiences in on name value of the participants.

After several decades of successfully avoiding capture, former anti-government activist Jim Grant (Redford) must leave his young daughter behind when one of his old cohorts (Susan Sarandon) surrenders to authorities under the leadership of agent Cornelius (Terrence Howard). Grant’s history as a member of the (real-life) Weather Underground organization finds little sympathizers in the present time, as only his fellow Vietnam-era radicals knew the true nature of the cause, but his presence at a 1981 bank robbery that resulted in a security guard’s death branded him a fugitive from justice.

In an interesting twist, young Albany Sun-Times reporter Ben Shepard (Shia LaBeouf) quickly becomes obsessed with the story, not unlike Redford’s turn as Bob Woodward in 1976’s “All the President’s Men.” Although still on the side of truth, Grant experiences what it’s like to be relentlessly pursued by someone looking to get the facts at any cost. Through interviews with Grant’s former associates (including Julie Christie, Nick Nolte, Chris Cooper, Sam Elliott and Richard Jenkins), Shepard realizes that there may be more to the supposed crime than he initially believed.

Given the divisive nature of Redford’s career behind the camera, it’s interesting to see him play a character some believe to be a hero, while others consider a threat to national security. Basically structured to provide dramatic scene after scene for the all-star cast (in Sarandon’s case, the results are unforgettably effective), “The Company You Keep” allows Redford and LaBeouf to interact with multiple screen legends giving incredible performances. But those interested in a more historically-focused drama about the ideals of 1960s militants in American culture today might feel more than a little short-changed.